Remember how we used to joke about John McCain looking like an old guy yelling at kids to get off his lawn? It’s only in retrospect that we can see that the keep-off-the-grass period was the McCain campaign’s golden era. Now, he’s beginning to act like one of those movie characters who steals the wrong ring and turns into a troll.

During that last debate, while he was wandering around the stage, you almost expected to hear him start muttering: “We wants it. We needs it. Must have the precious.”

Even my man Keith Olbermann teed up McCain for the tough Tolkien takedown last week:

“And now, our No. 1 story on the COUNTDOWN, McCain as Gollum in "Lord of the Rings." Bringing his own set of brush strokes, comedian Richard Lewis presently. It's not his name-never mind.”

I don't know what brought these folks all to this point last week, but we here at the Group News Blog can say unequivocally that we were on that angle MONTHS AGO. McCain as Gollum? February 8th, 2008, folks. Eight months ago.

So, for the record Jon, Gail and Keith, perhaps it was just “great minds” thinking alike, but THIS was where that shpiel got its start—replete with the infamous disturbing graphic image. And to you, dear readers, know that this place you come to day after day is here for you, more often than a little bit, ahead of the curve—and we thank you for coming by every time...every mouse click through.

And you may NOT be alone in digging on this place for fun, opinion, and maybe a little bit of thought-provoking analysis.